RAPID: Impact of Hurricane Florence on well quality in communities surrounding coal ash impoundments in North Carolina

飓风佛罗伦萨引发风暴潮、历史性降雨和大范围洪灾后，北卡罗来纳州宣布进入紧急状态。洪水导致了火山灰储存点的坍塌。火山灰是煤炭燃烧的副产品，是美国产生的最大类别的工业废物之一。研究人员观察到，受火山灰影响的河流和私人水井中的有毒金属水平上升，如砷、六价铬、硒、锶和钒。人们对洪水对火山灰场地的影响知之甚少。在火山灰蓄水池受到佛罗伦萨飓风影响的县，北卡罗来纳州有超过8.5万名水井用户，这表明存在潜在的重大污染风险。这项研究的假设是，受洪水影响的火山灰蓄水池周围的私人水井面临更高的重金属污染风险。通过这笔快速拨款，研究小组将进行时间和空间采样，以评估可能受到火山灰蓄水池污染影响的社区中与洪水相关的井水危害。此外，将分发调查以获取信息，以改善受影响井主的沟通、教育和赋权。这项研究的目标是：1)确定受洪水影响的灰烬蓄水县井水重金属和细菌污染的特征；2)检查与洪水准备和恢复相关的井水使用者的风险认知、行为和资源需求；3)确定特定地点的危险距离、水文地质因素、水井建设特征和增加污染可能性的水井使用者行为。必须对无机污染物进行评估，以确保居民有安全的饮用水。已经开发了指纹技术来确定饮用水中重金属污染的来源，包括井水基础设施和火山灰来源。然而，这些方法还没有被广泛应用于系统地追踪被淹的私人油井中的重金属污染源。此外，北卡罗来纳州当地卫生部门被要求维护油井建设记录，这些记录可以用来进一步了解在洪水期间可能影响污染物运输的油井建设因素。最后，对油井所有者的调查将提供有关油井所有者准备和恢复行为的宝贵知识。这些信息源共同支持针对火山灰蓄水池附近社区的定制应急计划资源和恢复战略。这项研究项目将深入了解火山灰场地附近受洪水影响的水井中微生物和有毒金属污染的潜在来源和污染途径，并将有助于阐明水井所有者的资源需求，从而实现自动井水保护。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A state of emergency was declared in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence caused storm surges, historic rainfall, and widespread flooding. The flooding caused collapses at coal ash storage sites. Coal ash is a waste byproduct from coal combustion and is one of the largest classes of industrial waste generated in the United States. Researchers have observed elevated levels of toxic metals, such as arsenic, hexavalent chromium, selenium, strontium, and vanadium, in the rivers and private wells impacted by coal ash. Little is known about the impacts of flooding on coal ash sites. There are more than 85,000 North Carolina well users in counties where coal ash impoundments have been impacted by Hurricane Florence, demonstrating a potentially significant risk of contamination. The hypothesis of this study is that private wells surrounding flood-impacted coal ash impoundments are at increased risk of heavy metal contamination. Through this RAPID grant, the research team will conduct temporal and spatial sampling to evaluate flood-associated well water hazards in communities potentially affected by contamination from coal ash impoundments. In addition, surveys will be distributed to obtain information to improve communication, education, and empowerment of impacted well owners. This research project aims to: 1) characterize well water heavy metal and bacterial contamination in counties with flood-impacted coal ash impoundments; 2) examine well users' risk perceptions, behaviors, and resource needs related to flood preparation and recovery; and 3) determine site-specific hazard proximities, hydrogeologic factors, well construction characteristics, and well user behaviors that increase the likelihood of contamination. Inorganic contaminants must be evaluated to ensure residents have safe, potable drinking water. Fingerprinting techniques have been developed to determine the sources of heavy metal contamination in drinking water, both from well water infrastructure and coal ash sources. However, these methods have not been widely utilized to systematically track the source of heavy metal contamination in flooded private wells. In addition, local North Carolina health departments are required to maintain well construction records, which can be used to further understand well construction factors that can influence contaminant transport during flooding. Finally, surveys of well owners will provide valuable knowledge about well owner preparedness and recovery behaviors. These information sources collectively support customized emergency planning resources and recovery strategies for communities near coal ash impoundments. This research project will provide insights into the potential sources and contamination pathways of microbial and toxic metal contamination in flood-impacted wells near coal ash sites and will help elucidate well owner resource needs that will enable autonomous well water protection.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.